How We Survived Losing 90% of the Business w/ Saul Bankaitis @ Collinear Group

Today I talk with Saul Bankaitis, CEO of Collinear Group.A little backstory, Collinear Group was the second company I worked at in my professional career.So it was a privilege for me to sit down with him and get his point of view on everything that’s happened over the past several decades of that industry.We coverHis critical advice for anyone thinking about an engineering careerHow to the tough politics of struggling companiesAnd one leadership move that you do not what to undervalueAs the President and CEO of Collinear Group, Saul leverages deep expertise in serving commercial clients and government agencies operating at the highest levels of aviation and aerospace.His industry-leading consulting team helps manufacturers, suppliers, and operators reach new heights by bringing intelligence and technology to solve the most complex challenges in aerospace.00:00 — Introducing Saul04:10 — What AI Is Doing to the Next Generation of Careers06:00 — “Do You Even Need to Care About the Code Anymore?”08:25 — Saul’s First Experience Seeing the SR-71 Blackbird10:10 — The NASA Job Saul Hated — And Why It Changed Everything11:55 — The Leadership Culture That Changed Saul’s Career15:20 — The Biggest Mistake Saul Made at Techtura18:55 — The Brutal Reality of Not Being Able to Pay Your People21:05 — Why Most Engineers Struggle to Add Real Value22:40 — “What’s the Real Requirement?”25:35 — Why Job Fulfillment Matters More Than Ever29:55 — How Saul Accidentally Became an Entrepreneur33:15 — The 95-Hour Weeks That Built Collinear36:40 — How Collinear Exploded From 2 People to 4039:10 — The Leadership Lessons Learned During COVID and the MAX Crisis41:15 — How Collinear Survived Losing 90% of Its Business43:35 — The Leaders Who Saved the Company45:20 — Why “Industry 4.0” Was Mostly Hype47:05 — The Hardest Part of Leading Through Chaos49:10 — Why Followership Is a Dying Art50:25 — Saul’s Biggest Leadership Regret52:05 — The Future of Aerospace, AI, and Advanced Air Mobility53:35 — Why Remote Work Makes Mentorship Harder55:10 — The Real Opportunity in Aerospace AI57:10 — What’s Next for Collinear